Author: Shonavruz Afzalshoyev
KHOROG, November 3, 2008, Asia-Plus — On November 2, His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), arrived in Khorog, Gorno Badakhshan.
Tajik First Deputy Prime Minister Asadullo Ghulomov is accompanying him on the trip to Gorno Badakhshan.
Today, the Aga Khan is participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the Ismaili Center, Jamoatkhona, in Khorog and holding talks with the governors of Gorno Badakhshan and that Afghan Badakhshan province. After the talks, His Highness the Aga Khan is visiting the School for Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) of the University of Central Asia (UCA).
In Gorno Badakhshan, the Aga Khan will also meet with members of the Ismaili community. On November 4, the Aga Khan will visit the Ishkashim district and November 5, he will visit the Shugnan district.
The Aga Khan’s visit comes at the invitation of the Government of Tajikistan and is one of many being undertaken to commemorate his Golden Jubilee as Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. His Highness succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, as Imam on 11 July 1957.
The Aga Khan’s visit to Tajikistan is part of a 10-day trip to Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; all three countries signed an international treaty establishing the UCA in 2000.
In Kazakhstan, he met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and other high-ranking Kazakh state officials as well as visited sites of the UCA main campus and SPCE in Tekeli.
In Kyrgyzstan, the Aga Khan will meet with senior government representatives and will travel to Naryn to review the main campus site of the UCA and the construction of the new Town Campus that will house SPCE.
via ASIA-Plus, His Highness the Aga Khan visits Gorno Badakhshan
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